N Srinivasan’s position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) is safe for now. But there’s little doubt that he faces a rough ride as its chairman.

Being the ICC chief without BCCI’s backing makes you powerless. Sharad Pawar will vouch for that. During his tenure as ICC president, it was Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar who called the shots as the Indian board’s top bosses.

The souring of relations between Srinivasan and the BCCI’s new secretary, Anurag Thakur, and changing power equations in the board indicate that Srinivasan is in for a similar experience.

The leaked letter to the media targetting Thakur is being seen by the new BCCI regime as a warning of the damage that can be caused using ICC resources. Hence, reports that the Pawar-Thakur group is looking to oust Srinivasan from the ICC are not entirely unfounded.

How and when they plan to do it has still not been worked out.

GRADUAL CONTROL

A key member of the Thakur-Pawar group, who was present at Sunday’s working committee meeting, said that it was too early to take any action against Srinivasan.

“All issues will be dealt with, step by step,” he said.

They have compulsions too. To get a decision in the Special General Body Meeting, twothirds majority is needed, which is 21 BCCI units. The Pawar-Thakur group is not guaranteed that. The equation is fast changing in Board politics but Srinivasan still holds enough numbers to thwart any bid to oust him as ICC head.

“He is losing control. It was seen at the WC meeting; the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association chief ’s supporters were down to five. Even some of his loyalists have become 50-50. It’s all about the chair in BCCI, nothing is permanent,” said the Pawar-group member.

However, the TNCA camp is confident of Srinivasan surviving in case voting is held at an SGM. “None of our allies in the South have been approached to switch allegiance,” said a TNCA source.

Even other associations were unaware of any such move against Srinivasan. Most importantly, it won’t be just the BCCI office-bearers’ call; political influence could also play a role in any action against Srinivasan.